Agrotechnology

The Effect of Nutrients and Farming Techniques on Maize Productivity

Jose Beltran^* Department of Agricultural Science, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, United States of America
^*Correspondence: Jose Beltran, Department of Agricultural Science, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, United States of America, Email:

Received: 03-Feb-2023, Manuscript No. AGT-23-20578; Editor assigned: 06-Feb-2023, Pre QC No. AGT-23-20578 (PQ); Reviewed: 20-Feb-2023, QC No. AGT-23-20578; Revised: 27-Feb-2023, Manuscript No. AGT-23-20578 (R); Published: 06-Mar-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2168-9881.23.12.304

Description

Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, providing food, feed, and industrial raw materials. However, maize productivity is often limited by soil fertility and water availability, especially in semi-arid regions. Therefore, finding optimal nutrients with farming techniques that can enhance maize productivity and Water Use Efficiency (WUE) is a crucial challenge for sustainable agriculture. Nutrients are essential for plant growth and development, affecting various physiological and biochemical processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, enzyme activity, and stress tolerance. The major nutrients required for maize production are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), and secondary and micronutrients such as Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), And Chlorine (Cl).

Nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient for maize production, as it is involved in protein synthesis, chlorophyll formation, and nucleic acid metabolism. N deficiency can reduce leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, root growth, and grain yield. The optimal N rate for maize production depends on various factors such as soil type, climate, cropping system, irrigation method, and management practices. Generally, the recommended N rate for maize ranges from 120 kg ha-1 to 280 kg ha-1 depending on the yield potential and soil N status.

Phosphorus (P) is another important nutrient for maize production, as it is involved in energy transfer, nucleic acid synthesis, root development, and stress resistance. P deficiency can reduce root growth, tillering, flowering, seed set, and grain yield. The optimal P rate for maize production depends on various factors such as soil type, climate, cropping system, irrigation method, and management practices. Generally, the recommended P rate for maize ranges from 60 kg ha-1 to 140 kg ha-1 depending on the yield potential and soil P status.

Potassium (K) is also a vital nutrient for maize production, as it is involved in osmoregulation, stomatal movement, enzyme activation, carbohydrate metabolism, and stress tolerance. K deficiency can reduce leaf size, stem strength, root growth, water uptake, and grain yield. The optimal K rate for maize production depends on various factors such as soil type, climate, cropping system, irrigation method, and management practices. Generally, the recommended K rate for maize ranges from 60 kg ha-1 to 120 kg ha-1 depending on the yield potential and soil K status.

Secondary and micronutrients are also essential for maize production but are required in smaller amounts than N,P,K. They play important roles in various metabolic pathways such as nitrogen fixation (Mo), chlorophyll synthesis (Fe), photosynthesis (Mn), pollen tube growth (B), enzyme activity (Zn), cell wall formation (Ca), protein synthesis (S), and disease resistance (Cu). The optimal rates of secondary and micronutrients for maize production depend on various factors such as soil type, climate, cropping system, irrigation method, and management practices. Generally, the recommended rates of secondary and micronutrients for maize range from 10 kg ha-1 to 40 kg ha-1 depending on the yield potential and soil nutrient status. Farming techniques are also important for finding optimal nutrients for maize production, as they can affect the availability, uptake, and utilization of nutrients by plants.

Farming techniques that can influence maize productivity

Conservation tillage: This is a practice that minimizes soil disturbance and maintains crop residues on the soil surface. Conservation tillage can improve soil structure, water retention, organic matter, and nutrient cycling. It can also reduce soil erosion, runoff, and weed growth. Conservation tillage can enhance N, P, and K availability and uptake by maize plants.

Mulching: This is a practice that covers the soil surface with organic or inorganic materials such as crop residues, straw, plastic, or stones. Mulching can conserve soil moisture and reduce evaporation, temperature fluctuations, and weed growth. Mulching can enhance N, P, and K availability and uptake by maize plants.

Crop diversification: This is a practice that involves growing different crops in rotation or intercropping. Crop diversification can improve nutrient cycling and soil fertility; reduce pest and disease pressure, and increase biomass production and carbon sequestration. Crop diversification can enhance N, P, and K availability and uptake by maize plants.